Category Archives: Beauty tips

Posted on May 4, 2012 at 8:47 am

BeautyView: Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, Director and Founder, Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center, New York, NY and 37 Extreme Actives

Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, Director and Founder, Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center, New York, NY and 37 Extreme Actives

It is easy to see why one would be impressed by Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas. First, she is striking. Second, her official title is so long I couldn’t fit it all in the title of this blog: Assistant Clinical Professor, Yale University School of Medicine and Director and Founder, Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center, New York, NY and 37 Extreme Actives, NY Derm LLC. Third, the 5 letters that come after her name in her email signature: MD, PhD. I also love that she is Greek (I am fascinated by Greece and Greek culture); now I can add to the list of things about Macrene that intrigue me the fact that she is an artist and almost became a sculptor. Of course, given her involvement in the beauty industry (whether on the treatment side or on the product side), her artistic eye and interest in aesthetics is not surprising. She is an artist…

AP: What city were you born in? MAA: New York, NY.

AP: What city to do you live in? MAA: New York, NY.

AP: What is your middle name? MAA: Renee.

AP: What is your astrological sign? MAA: Virgo of course – perfectionist!

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? MAA: Beauty itself, I am an artist.

AP: Least favorite thing? MAA: Greed; it is the ugly underbelly.

AP: What is your most prized possession? MAA: My children, if you can call them possessions until they are 18!  And my husband, who is locked up for life!

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? MAA: That I almost became an artist and a sculptor, not a doctor and a scientist.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? MAA: Two watches – one a gift from my husband a Patek Phillipe 5600; the other a gift from my good friend Elle Editor-in-Chief Robbie Myers – a Michelle watch Urban in rose gold and diamonds. I get a ton of compliments on that one.  She has such an eye.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? MAA: Both.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? MAA: Saul Perlmutter, Brian Schmidt and Adam Riess, the three shared Nobel Laureates in Physics 2011.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? MAA: Make boundaries, force yourself to be the one who drops off and picks up.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? MAA: Minimize. Keep the travel to a minimum so you do not deprive your patients and family from your care.

AP: What is your favorite book? MAA: I just re-read Gone With the Wind. I am always reading something. Margaret Mitchell’s prose is unparalleled.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? MAA: I do not drink cocktails, but I do juice!  I like carrot, apple, beet, ginger, pear and cucumber.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? MAA: 37 Actives has saved me from needing to do a lot of things I could do.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? MAA: Chanel no 5. Still!!

AP: Botox or not? MAA: Do not need it quite yet but have no problem with it whatsoever.

AP: Hair color: natural or not? MAA: My colorist Alexis at Oscar Blandi has matched my normal youthful highlights for over a decade. You cannot tell my hair from my daughter’s apart when we are side by side. Without her highlights, I would be much duller.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. MAA: Do not use an ipod. I am an opera fanatic. My favorite operas at the Met this year included Anna Bolena, Manon, both with Anna Netrebko and the most incredible production of Faust with Jonas Kaufmann. Superb.

AP: Quote to live by. MAA: “Everything in moderation” (in Greek, “Pan Metron Ariston”).

AP: Who is your mentor? MAA: My most important mentors were: Carroll Williams PhD in insect molecular biology; Lawrence Bogorad PhD the discoverer of chlorophyll – my mentor in plant molecular biology; Dan Goodenough PhD and Dean Federman MD both mentors at Harvard during my MD PhD.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. MAA: Focus on your studies – strive for excellence in everything you do.

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Posted on April 26, 2012 at 12:47 pm

BeautyView: LeeAnne Cress, Studio Manager, Barre3 Georgetown

LeeAnne Cress, Studio Manager, Barre3 Georgetown

Earlier this spring I discovered Barre3, and I now don’t know how I ever lived without it. I needed to get back into a regular exercise routine, I needed to get more toned, and I needed to find a better morning routine. Barre 3 did all three for me. I go to the 6:30 am class every week day that I am in DC (2 to 3 per week, typically). I love the workout (it nostalgically reminds me of my 7 years of ballet and still makes me sore everyday), and I love LeeAnne, the manager and my favorite instructor. While I always have found her gorgeous, I guess we all look a tad less glamorous at 6:30 am, in workout clothes, sweaty and without makeup than in a model-like photo!

AP: What city were you born in? LC: I was born in Salisbury, MD.

AP: What city to do you live in? LC: I live in McLean, VA.

AP: What is your middle name? LC: Rebekah.

AP: What is your astrological sign? LC: I’m not sure; I think it’s the goat one. I never seem to pay attention to that stuff.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? LC: I love being a strong woman and empowering other women to be strong. Physically and emotionally.

AP: Least favorite thing? LC: My least favorite thing about the beauty industry is the superficial vanity. I have modeled off and on since I was 12 and the pressure for perfection is daunting. I believe all women are beautiful when they are kind and compassionate. It does not always have to do with the outside.

AP: What is your most prized possession? LC: Right now? My engagement ring! Not only because it’s so shiny but because of what it stands for!

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? LC: I have a pacemaker. I’ve had it for 2 years and I can’t live without it. Being healthy saved my life. My heart would have stopped beating years ago if I had not been living a healthy lifestyle.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? LC: I do not wear one but I love Le Mer watches! They are so fun and casual. I don’t wear watches to dress up.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? LC: Both! Love my ring but I love the sophistication of pearls.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? LC: Meryl Streep. She’s strong, educated, and amazing at her craft.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? LC: Loving what I do! When you love what you do everyday it doesn’t always seem like work. I also make sure to leave the phone in the other room or on silent and focus on what or who is in front of me. And I fall of the grid every now and then. I go to my family’s farm in DE where I grew up and don’t bother with technology for a few days.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? LC: 1. Only travel with those you completely trust. 2. Pack light so you can bring things home. 3. Try something new!

AP: What is your favorite book? LC: That’s difficult because I love to read! It’s between To Kill a Mockingbird (I’ve read it 200 times at least) and anything by Neil Gaiman.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? LC: Champagne or a dirty Sapphire Blue Gin Martini.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? LC: No SUN! Just fake it, there are wonderful products on the market that don’t make you look like a pumpkin.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? LC: I have worn Coco Mademoiselle Chanel since my brother bought me my first bottle at age 17.

AP: Botox or not? LC: I don’t like the sound of toxins in my face, but I’m only 26 what do I know?

AP: Hair color: natural or not? LC: %100 natural color curl and all! I love my hair :)

AP: 3 songs on your iPod right now. LC: “Loca”by Shakira, “Intergalactic”by Beastie Boys, and “Girls fall like Dominoes”by Nicki Minaj.

AP: Quote to live by. LC: “Time is a tree (this life one leaf)” E.E Cummings.

AP: Who is your mentor? LC: My fiancé Alvaro. He’s smart, successful, kind and he makes really good decisions. I value his opinion very much.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. LC: Be prepared to start at the bottom and prove yourself. You have to work hard and be creative to stand out. Find something you love to do everyday (remember that may take some time).

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Posted on April 22, 2012 at 3:08 pm

Warm weather skin care tips

My colleague Anne in her favorite summer hat While the first official day of summer is still almost two months away, as I sit in my hotel room in Miami (taking a quick break from the amazing Tuff Love Aveda / Neill hair show taking place this week-end) and watch the people lying out by the pool, the topic of summer skin care comes to mind.

My mother always told me that the change of seasons was the perfect excuse to do a deep cleaning of my house, more specifically of my closets. My father, on the other hand, always told me the change of seasons was the perfect time to take another look at my skin care products and skin care routine and adapt it accordingly.

How do late spring and summer affect our skin? Of course, sunburns come to mind. Sweating, heat rashes, and clogged pores are also typical concerns of warm weather skin care. Sunshine and higher temperatures also mean dresses, shorts, sleeveless tops, open toed shoes and flip flops…. Here is how I deal with warm weather skin:

  1. I switch to a gel-based cleanser. My skin type is pretty normal, and as is typical, I am dryer during the winter months and oilier during the warmer months. To get rid of all traces of sweat and to avoid clogged pores, I love a “squeaky clean” feel, and our Excimer purifying gel cleanser is perfect for that.
  2. I take cooler showers. Really, hot water, while delightful and relaxing, is not great for the skin, in any season. In warmer months, I find it easier to enjoy slightly cooler water, which is great to tighten pores, stimulate circulation (my Mom swears it is her daily cold showers that have given her her cellulite-free legs…), and give my hair some added shine.
  3. I make sure to exfoliate regularly, both face and body. I find that regular (aka twice weekly) exfoliation helps to keep my blackheads under control, and actually ensure a longer, more even sun-kissed look. While I don’t use self-tanner, exfoliation is indeed crucial prior to applying tanning lotion, to ensure it goes on smoothly and avoid streaks.
  4. I switch to a lighter moisturizer. Whether I am in DC or in New Orleans, there is plenty of moisture in the air starting April. While humidity can be awful for hair, it truly is wonderful for skin. Skin will absorb some of the moisture in the air, and as such, most skin types can benefit from a lighter moisturizer during the warmer months. Our Yttrium protective morning cream is particularly ideal and leaves a very matte finish on the skin.
  5. Sunscreen is a must. Indeed, while sunscreen is a must every day, it is a MUST when out by the beach, the pool, or the river. My father always recommended SPF 50+ on the face and body, and until we develop our own sunscreen, his favorite is LaRoche Posay’s Anthelios. He also taught me to avoid the sun between 11 am and 3 pm, and to be particularly careful when in the water, as sun gets reflected and is then twice a dangerous.
  6. Don’t forget your lips – they too are prone to sunburn. Whatever sunscreen you apply on the face, don’t avoid your lips or lip contours. And make sure you use a lip balm that contains an SPF.
  7. Don’t forget your eyes – sunglasses will help protect your eyes from the sun, and will help prevent squinting, which leads to wrinkles.
  8. Shorter dresses and arm-bearing tops mean that I am particularly conscious of my body. Our Alexandrite firming gel for neck and bust and our Q-switch optimizing body contour gel take care of my upper and lower body respectively, preventing sagging and minimizing cellulite. Of course, a couple extra sessions of Barre3 will help more than any product…
  9. For many, summer means more frequent shaving. If you experience post-shaving irritation or ingrown hairs, remember to shave only after you have been in the shower for a few minutes (your hairs will be softer), to change your blade often, to exfoliate, and to shave with a cream-based product (shaving cream or hair conditioner work best).
  10. Don’t forget your feet – for me, open-toed shoes mean more frequent pedicures, but also dryer feet and the propensity to cracked heels. I use our 532nm antioxidant relief for hands and feet religiously every evening.
  11. Last but not least, hydrate from the inside out. With warmer weather comes more sweating, which means it is doubly important to drink those recommended 8 glasses of water per day. Emergen-C in my water helps it go down better…

Finally, my father always reminded me not only of what to do, but also of what not to do during the summer. Avoid photo-sensitizing products such as retinols (or use them less frequently), avoid laser treatments on tanned skin, and avoid stronger peels on tanned skin.

Happy bathing suit season!

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Posted on April 17, 2012 at 5:00 pm

BeautyView: Alexandra Gonzalez, Beauty Assistant, Real Simple

Alexandra Gonzalez, Beauty Assistant, Real Simple Magazine

In my world, beauty editors are magicians, so able to influence the trajectory of my brand and the success of my products that they sometimes seem intimidating. Alexandra Gonzalez, Beauty Assistant at Real Simple magazine (to which I have subscribed since the very first issue), is absolutely a magician. Having had the pleasure of getting to know her better, I realized that while she is indeed all-powerful, she is also kind (I love her last piece of advice), endearing (in particular in her state of bliss over being engaged and wedding planning), and truly fascinated with our industry, always trying to learn more (during her facial in my Georgetown showroom she couldn’t help herself but pick the brain of my aesthetician Rosario – in her native Spanish – rather than relaxing). Cherry on the cake? She is native to the DC area!

AP: What city were you born in? AG: A suburb of Washington DC, Bethesda Maryland.

AP: What city to do you live in? AG: New York City. I moved here for college (I went to Fashion Institute), fell in love and never left.

AP: What is your middle name? AG: Rebecca, my brother picked it out. He wanted it to be my first name so we’d have the same initials but our mom and dad compromised by making it my middle name.

AP: What is your astrological sign? AG: Aquarius.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? AG: I have to admit, I love seeing new products before they hit the market. Meeting these creators who are passionate is fascinating. It’s also such a happy industry… I also really enjoy writing or pitching a product, then hearing that it made a difference for a reader.

AP: Least favorite thing? AG: There isn’t a real routine, every day is different. That keeps me focused, but it can be frustrating when emails are piling up and need get answered.

AP: What is your most prized possession? AG: Probably my grandmother’s cross and engagement ring. Well, and now my own. They just symbolize so much more than what they seem.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? AG: Most people would probably be surprised to know I am completely obsessed with CSI–yes, the cheesy TV show. I can watch any of the seasons. The marathons on SPIKE TV are my favorite pass time on a rainy or cold Sunday afternoon.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? AG: Nope, I’m such a child of my generation and only carry around my phone. I would be lost without my iphone–literally and figuratively.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? AG: Diamonds! Who doesn’t like a little sparkle in their life?

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? AG: Can I get a few people? Ha! J  For example, a round table of Editor-in-Chiefs from publications I admire…  That would be delightful. I’d ask them a million questions.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? AG: I don’t have a balance…I’m still figuring it out. But the weeks that I do, I make sure that it’s a combination of dinner with friends and relaxing.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? AG: 1. Don’t bring a map. 2. Eat way more than you need to. 3. Visit at least one unknown museum in every city you visit.

AP: What is your favorite book? AG: Anything by Jodi Picult. Her stories completely transport me to a different place. And I have to admit… who doesn’t love a little Harry Potter?

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? AG: Cava; there is always something to celebrate.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? AG: All natural virgin coconut oil. It hydrates, cures blemishes and refreshes all in one night. I am all for oils of all kinds–hair, face, cuticles.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? AG: Mademoiselle by Chanel. My aunts, grandmothers and mother all wear Chanel perfume. They were the ones who ingrained in me my love for beauty, so I can’t part with it.

AP: Botox or not? AG: Not now, but maybe later.

AP: Hair color: natural or not? AG: Absolutely not. My natural color is so dark it makes my features look weird. When I was thirteen I really wanted to color my hair, so my mom took me to her hairdresser (absolutely love Manual in Georgetown!) and I haven’t stopped since.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. AG: I listen to my Pandora Stations, so whatever is playing on the Adelle station these days.

AP: Quote to live by. AG: “We live not according to reason, but according to fashion. ~ Seneca, Roman Philosopher.

AP: Who is your mentor? AG: Didi Gluck, our beauty director at Real Simple. She is an amazing person and manager. I go to her for everything, probably more than I should considering she is my boss. I learn something new from her every day and she makes work so much fun.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. AG: Never assume you have learned everything or that you have the job in the bag, always continue to try to impress people without being pushy. Also, find a balance between confidence and humility. Finally, always open doors and smile at people. Being nice can go a long way.

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Posted on March 24, 2012 at 8:37 am

My favorite skin care tips

In honor of Wellness Week, which is coming to an end, I thought I would share some of my favorite skin care tips, so that you might add to and enhance your wellness resolutions as they are proposed by SpaFinder.

1. Listen to your skin. If your skin breaks out when you use a product, that product is not for you. If your skin feels uncomfortable, irritated, blotchy, raw when you use a product, that product is not for you. Think of your skin as a baby – it can’t express itself in words, so it finds other ways of telling you how it feels. Listen to it.

2. Always apply products from thin to thick. That means serums first, gels second, creams third, and sunscreens last.

3. Don’t mix your treatment product with your protection product. Do you use a shampoo and conditioner in one? I didn’t think so. Why do to your skin what you wouldn’t do to your hair?

4. If you are old enough to have a cocktail, you are old enough to be using an eye contour cream. No ifs or buts about it. The skin of the eye contour area is the thinnest (other than the skin of our lips), and will start showing age earliest.

5. Always apply your eye contour cream with your ring finger (our weakest finger), and from the outside in. That will minimize the likeliness that you will tug at this delicate area, stressing it further instead of treating it with some TLC.

6. Our faces lie, our necks tell our age. Make sure you use your facial products on your neck and décolleté. Even better, invest in a product that is specifically designed for this delicate area.

7. Our hands also tell our age. Aging does not happen from forehead to chin, but on our entire bodies. Our hands in particular, which are as exposed to the elements as our faces, deserve the same anti-aging care.

8. Prevention is key. Don’t wait for the brown spots and wrinkles to show up before you start using quality anti-aging products.

9. Sunscreen is also key. SPF 15 during the winter months (SPF 50+ on the ski slopes), SPF 30 during the sunny months (SPF 50+ on the beach or by the pool).

10. Don’t expect of your products the same results you will get from treatments in a spa or medical office. Products are a complement to treatments, not an alternative.

Just as Wellness Week was to serve as a reminder that we need to take care of ourselves, that we need to commit to health and wellness, let us also commit to a healthy skin care regimen. Find the products that work for you, and use them morning and evening. Every day, as part of your self care ritual.

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Posted on February 25, 2012 at 12:44 pm

BeautyView: Jani Friedman, Managing Director, Demeter Group

Jani Friedman, Managing Director, Demeter Group

I am a firm believer in networking, although I am not a fan of the word. I think of it more as building and fostering relationships, connecting people, and expanding my circle of friends. Jani is a perfect example of that. I introduced myself to her after seeing her present at a WWD retail conference a number of years ago. Since then, we meet whenever our hectic schedules allow, usually in San Francisco and always with her dog Chloé. Beyond being industry peers, beyond being Harvard alumni (did you see The Crimson Guard article in the recent issue of WWD Beauty Inc?), we are now friends; and that is the true purpose of networking.

AP: What city were you born in? JF: Neillsville, WI.

AP: What city to do you live in? JF: San Francisco, CA.

AP: What is your middle name? JF: Marie.

AP: What is your astrological sign? JF: Gemini.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? JF: Brainstorming about new products and then watching them come to life.

AP: Least favorite thing? JF: Telemarketers (if you mean in life) or, What’s not to love? (if you mean ‘about the beauty industry”).

AP: What is your most prized possession? JF: Chloé Lucia, my Miki pup.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? JF: I was on Family Feud when I was about 17 years old. Embarrassing!

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model?  JF: A watch is not necessary since I’m staring at my computer or phone all day which conveniently reminds me that time is ticking by.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? JF: Pearls.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? JF: The Pope.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? JF: Having Chloé in the office everyday – she’s the glue that holds us all together.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? JF: 1. Get a Global Entry card to speed through Immigration and Customs. 2. Bring someone you love on all trips. 3. Wear flats and cashmere.

AP: What is your favorite book? JF: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? JF: Malbec.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? JF: Smile, even when it’s hard.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? JF: Fresh, Memoire Liquide, and Diptyque’s Philosykos.

AP: Botox or not? JF: Not yet, but I am strongly considering a few needed shots.

AP: Hair color: natural or not? JF: I couldn’t live without my colorist John Yaskevich.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. JF: Set Fire to the Rain by Adele, Beast of Burden by Rolling Stones, Say it Right by Nelly Furtado.

AP: Quote to live by. JF: “Don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door” by Coco Chanel.

AP: Who is your mentor? JF: My Dad.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. JF: Don’t act, feel, or think you’re entitled. Take on any project where you have to think or work hard; it will get noticed. An analogy that I like is operating a submarine (not that I’ve had the pleasure yet). Go 44 knots (really fast) through the sea in the direction of your target, but make sure to utilize your periscope often to ensure you are aware of your environment, people, and any oncoming hazards. Destroy anything negative in your way. Reach your target and celebrate!

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Posted on January 13, 2012 at 2:40 pm

BeautyView: Lynne McNees, President, International Spa Association

Lynne McNees, President, International Spa Association

Lynne McNees, President, International Spa Association

The first thing I did way back when I decided that I was going to launch Alchimie Forever in the US to spas, of course, was to become a member of ISPA. Since 2005, I have benefitted so from the International Spa Association. I have learned from spa professionals. I have met numerous spa owners and managers. I have learned from peers throughout my Task Force involvement. I have made BFFs. And, perhaps most significantly, I met my husband. Since 2005, throughout these experiences, both personal and professional, I have had the pleasure of getting to know Lynne McNees, President of ISPA. I know not to discuss politics with her; I know she gets up earlier than I do most mornings; I know she loves Wyoming. Yet I did not know much of the below…  and I now have a new must-read book on my list!

AP: What city were you born in? LM: Okinawa, Japan.  My dad was in the US Army.  I really “grew up” in Dallas, TX but moved to Washington, DC my senior year in high school… ouch!

AP: What city to do you live in? LM: Georgetown, Kentucky, about 30 minutes outside of Lexington.

AP: What is your middle name?  LM: Jeanice, but I use my maiden name Walker now.

AP: What is your astrological sign? LM: Capricorn.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry?  LM: The entrepreneurial spirit and inventiveness.

AP: Least favorite thing? LM: The unnecessary and excessive packaging.

AP: What is your most prized possession? LM: Can I say my cute husband?  If not, our two longhaired miniature dachshunds Jackson Hole and Teton Spirit would be my final answer!

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know?  LM: I’ve landed on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean. I’ve stood on the DMZ.  I flew a fighter jet during mid-air refueling.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? LM: Sometimes. The model varies depending on my mood.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? LM: Diamonds – definitely diamonds.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? LM: Paul McNees, my husband’s father who passed away when Barry was in college.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? LM: I will never be balanced! Balance is a daily practice I work at with a lot of great friends, hard exercise and a great bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? LM: 1. Water. 2. Hiking. 3. Humor.

AP: What is your favorite book? LM: China Calls by Anne Collins Walker (my mom). It’s about my Dad advancing President Nixon’s historic trip to China.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? LM: Other than Oregon Pinot Noir, Bourbon and Ginger.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? LM: Experimenting with all the fun ISPA member products and LOTS of water!

AP: What fragrance do you wear? LM: Aromatherapy Associates – Revive!  I am addicted.

AP: Botox or not? LM: Why not?

AP: Hair color: natural or not? LM: Luckily – my natural color but now I have to cover the gray!

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. LM: “Its 5 o’clock in the morning” by Lily Allen. “The Walk” by Mayer Hawthorne. Everything Garth Brooks and Willie Nelson.

AP: Quote to live by. LM: Clear eyes. Full heart. Can’t lose.

AP: Who is your mentor? LM: I’m lucky, every ISPA Chairman and their unique style has been a valuable mentor to me.  Additionally, both my parents with their unique (and distinct) approach to business.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. LM: Hard work prevails (and, never underestimate the impact of a handwritten thank you note!).

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Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:59 pm

BeautyView: Kelly Kovack, Co-Founder, Purpose Built

Kelly Kovack, Co-Founder, Purpose Built

Last fall, with the help of my Board, I decided that it would be helpful to have some marketing and branding professionals look at my brand. After all, I turn to experts to help me formulate my products, why should I not turn to experts to help me brand my products? While this seems very rational, if you know me, you know how much of a control freak I am, which made entrusting a branding firm with Alchimie a personal challenge (I have had a few extremely strange dreams about this project… the kind of dreams that remind me of those I had when I started school, in which I would show up to class realizing I had forgotten to prepare for a test, or forgotten to put on my clothes). After 9 meetings, 8 RFPs, and much thinking, I put my brand in the hands of Kelly Kovack, of Purpose Built. I have not regretted my decision for a single minute. We are in the midst of our brand renovation project (you may see some fine-tuning of our website and copywriting in the next few weeks), and given how much Kelly and I interact these days, it seemed fun to have a call with her where for once I was doing the asking, and she had to do the thinking and the answering…

AP: What city were you born in? KK: Montreal, Canada, but I grew up in Palm Harbor, Florida (it sounds more beautiful than it is).

AP: What city to do you live in? KK: Manhattan.

AP: What is your middle name?  KK: Ann, which was also my mother’s middle name.

AP: What is your astrological sign? KK: Taurus, which most people do not find surprising…

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? KK: I love that our industry offers a great balance between creativity and business. This suits my personality and skill set.  

AP: Least favorite thing? KK: I don’t like the perception of the beauty industry from the outside. Outsiders seem to feel that it is a superficial industry. Being in the industry, you realize that there is nothing superficial about helping someone clear their skin. The beauty industry is really about giving confidence to people.

AP: What is your most prized possession? KK: I have a lot of things I truly love, like books and art. But things can always be replaced. Experiences and memories are my most prized possessions. They mean much more to me than things.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? KK: I am a very good cook. But I don’t cook very often and my fridge really only contains champagne, water, and vitamins. I live in NYC, I eat most of my meals out… but when I do cook, my dinners become type A extravaganzas…

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? KK: I do. A vintage Rolex. It was a gift to myself after I went through the sale of Bliss to LVMH. It was the first time I had money and felt comfortable making such a significant purchase. Since then, I have been a consultant and I have had my own business. Throughout that time, I always thought “if all else goes bad, this is another month’s worth of expenses.” That I still have the watch and never had to sell it to make my rent is worth a lot to me.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? KK: Both.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? KK: It depends on my mood. At this very moment, dead would be Katherine Graham, and alive would be Christine Lagarde. I find her completely fascinating and so chic. The way she has been able to navigate a truly masculine industry in a truly feminine way is amazing.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? KK: I’m not sure I have found it, but as I have gotten older, I have realized that setting up standing appointments is key (acupuncture, gyrotonics, core fusion). They are non-negotiable, my team knows it, I know it, and I have learned to work around them.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? KK: 1. If traveling in a group, always rent a house or apartment rather than staying in a hotel. 2. I like to pick a regular spot to go to every day when traveling, like a coffee shop, where I can be recognized, and ask people for tips. (This includes when I travel for business, I like to always stay at the same hotel). It brings familiarity to the traveling process. 3. Always have loads of reading material.    

AP: What is your favorite book? KK: It’s impossible for me to pick one, so here are my most recent reads: Just Kids by Patti Smith and A Beautiful Fall by Alicia Drake.   

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? KK: Vodka martini. A little dirty, and very dry.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? KK: Mixing super aggressive products with super gentle ones. At night right now I use Renova with Rodin face oil over it. Also, hydration: I would love to bathe in hyaluronic acid.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? KK: Odin Fragrances… of course. Right now I am wearing a fragrance we are launching next year. Usually however, I constantly rotate between the 6.

AP: Botox or not? KK: It took me a long time to do it, but now I’m hooked.

AP: Hair color: natural or not? KK: Unfortunately and only out of necessity, not. I would really rather do anything than sit in a salon for two hours. I wish I could rock my gray hair… but not yet.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. KK: Just a growin by Young man. It’s around you by ANR. Bald by The Darkness.

AP: Quote to live by. KK: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever.” by Gandhi.

AP: Who is your mentor? KK: I don’t really have a mentor, but there have been a lot of people who have taken a chance on me during my career.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. KK: Don’t be afraid to take risks. Never stop learning. Work hard and own successes and failures. You can learn more from failures than successes, but don’t make the same mistakes twice. And most importantly, if you hate getting up in the morning and going to work, find another job.

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Posted on November 8, 2011 at 12:26 pm

BeautyView: Debra Neill Baker, Chairman of Neill Corporation

Debra Neill Baker, Chairman, Neill Corporation

I am writing this from Las Vegas, it is day 2 of the International Spa Association annual conference. The week of ISPA is always dear to me, not only for the industry learning, the visits with my favorite spa people, but also because ISPA has played such an important role in my relationship with my husband Edwin. After the BeautyView on Susie Ellis of SpaFinder (who is responsible for my meeting Edwin), it seems only fitting to interview my step-mother-in-law, Debra Neill Baker, Chairman of Neill Corporation, also referred to as Chief Energy Officer and self-declared Beauty Evangelist. I remember the first time I met her, at ISPA 2005 in Dallas, TX; I remember she was wearing a gorgeous white pant suit (she usually wears Aveda black on black); I have learned so much from her, still feel like I have so much to learn… starting with striking the word “favorite” from my vocabulary…

AP: What city were you born in? DN: I was born in Kansas, farm community…no city within 100 miles.  

AP: What city do you live in? DN: I have lived the past 30 years in the country 50 miles outside of New Orleans.  Might sound similar and it’s nothing the same!

AP: What is your middle name? DN: June, after my Aunt Ava June.

AP: What is your astrological sign? DN: Taurus.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty (and spa) industry? DN: it’s life-supporting and gives us the opportunity to truly “touch” others.

AP: Least favorite thing? DN: favorite is not a word I use much…”least favorite thing”…even less!

AP: What is your most prized possession? DN: My home.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? DN: That I freak out (inside) when I speak in public… I seldom appear to be nervous. I move right through the fear   and use it to create energy!

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? DN: Yes. I wear a man’s Cartier that I have had for 18 years… I am practical and extravagant simultaneously, and I value quality and timelessness.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? DN: Definitely diamonds…although I have very few. Jewelry has never been that compelling to me.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? DN: My children, Garrison and Paris… my best work and best teachers.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? DN: I re-framed and re-defined balance years ago. I live a blurred life… work and life are intertwined intentionally. And balance is not a steady state; it’s a dynamic and energizing lifestyle that works for me.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? DN: 1. Let home be wherever I am.  2. Carry my essential oils/botanical aromas for anointing my environment. 3. Be in the Flow: accept delays, cancellations, etc… breathe, hydrate, read…

AP: What is your favorite book? DN: There’s that favorite word again… books have been my primary self-development tool my entire life, including from Your Erroneous Zones to Think and Grow Rich to As A Man Thinketh to anything by Rumi or Thich Nhat Hanh.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? DN: Vodka is my cocktail of choice…for the effect not the taste!

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? DN:  No secrets, but rather purposeful decisions, a lifetime of taking care of this vehicle/temple/body, mind, and spirit. I have always had a whole-person approach…beauty/health/energy is an inside/outside process…breathing, moving, hydrating, conscious-eating, and sleeping!

AP: What fragrance do you wear? DN: I haven’t worn synthetic fragrance for over 30 years…Horst/Aveda created an awareness and sensitivity that has influenced my olfactory system forever! I wear Aveda aromas.

AP: Botox or not? DN: Why not?!

AP: Hair color: natural or not? DN: naturally, haircolor!

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. DN: Peter Gabriel/New Blood, my old stand-by Al Green, My Morning Jacket… I thrive on diversity.

AP: Quote to live by? DN: “Relationship is the key to the Universe … and the relationship with Self is at the source of it all.”

AP: Who is your mentor? DN: I have many… from my grandmother to my late husband Edwin to my present husband Michael to my children and too many in-between to list! When I was in my early teens I decided that I wanted to learn from everyone, from many teachers and Gurus…and ultimately be my own Guru! That may sound like a bit of arrogance… and truly, it’s about being a self-control freak!

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today? DN: Be clear about your values, what is truly important and meaningful to you, what gives you a feeling of fulfillment… that will lead you to work that expresses who you are and who you want to be!

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Posted on October 31, 2011 at 2:40 pm

BeautyView: Susie Ellis, President, SpaFinder Inc.

Susie Ellis, President, SpaFinder Inc.

I have known Susie Ellis for a number of years, and am a huge fan. While I met her through our industry, and while most of our interactions are more professional than personal, Susie holds a very special place in my heart as it is thanks to her (and Mary Elizabeth Gifford) that I met my husband. Indeed, this BeautyView is particularly relevant as we approach the annual International Spa Association conference. It is at ISPA back in 2005, at a chic industry dinner hosted by Susie and Mary Elizabeth, that I was seated next to Edwin (the seating chart apparently still exists somewhere). The rest, as they say, is history. As I prepare for ISPA 2011 (come say hi and learn more about Alchimie at the Universal Companies relaxation area in Lagoon H), it seems timely to highlight Susie and all that she has done, not just for my love life, but for our industry.  

AP: What city were you born in? SE: I was born in Bloomington, Illinois.  My parents were immigrants from Germany who came over after the war.  They settled into a German community in the middle of Illinois. 

AP: What city do you live in? SE: Today Peter and I live in New York and spend a fair amount of time in Palm Springs California where we have a vacation home. 

AP: What is your middle name? SE: Dorette

AP: What is your astrological sign? SE: Gemini – twins…

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty (and spa) industry? SE: My favorite thing about our industry is that it is an all-around positive…we lift people up, inspire people toward healthy lifestyles and in general deal with places and products that people love being part of. Our SpaFinder research has shown time and time again that people love the word spa – it brings a smile to their face…even if they may define it differently. Another plus for me is that being part of this industry has been good for my own health and a real help in the beauty department!

AP: Least favorite thing? SE: My least favorite thing about the industry is that there are some fringe beliefs that make their way into spas that in my opinion don’t serve us well. Also, there is a lack of transparency and understanding in terms of some beauty products that also ends up tainting the whole. For example, when I see tarot card reading or past life regression analysis done at spas, I cringe. While these may be fun pastimes that people can enjoy in other settings – like carnivals, etc. I think the fact that they sit side by side with things like exercise, healthy nutrition, stress reducing massage and meditation calls the rest of the menu of our services into question. I also find it disheartening to read some of the claims made for beauty products that are simply not believable. I do think things are getting better (www.spaevidence.com is one major step) and the internet encouraging transparency in general has helped. I wish these transitions would go faster.    

AP: What is your most prized possession? SE: A card my husband wrote to me on a birthday many years ago. I have kept it and cherish it. I don’t think he even knows I have it or that it meant so much to me. What he said on it was that throughout his life what he is most proud of achieving is our marriage. Since he has had a lot of achievements, this touched me greatly.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? SE: I have an identical twin sister who you would think is me if you met her! 

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? SE: I do wear a watch and because Peter is sort of a “watch connoisseur” I have several of them. While I love them all and I have several, I have to say that my black channel watch keeps the best time and is easiest for me to read.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? SE: Oh my, do I really need to pick?  It’s simply a tie and they work well together!

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? SE: Probably my twin sister (no offense to my husband) but Katrine and I don’t see each other very often as she lives in Texas and I live in New York.  Having dinner with her is always a joy and we have been known to spend hours and hours dining and talking. 

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? SE: Hmmm, you are assuming that I have a good work/life balance. That is actually something I am still working on as I have a tendency to “overwork” like other people might overeat or overdrink or overspend.  I work too many hours to the detriment of my health (and my marriage), however, I have been doing better in the past few years. What has worked for me is separating myself from other people’s job, saying “no” more often, and trusting my intuition and gut that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing and everything else just simply has to take care of itself. 

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? SE: 1. Comfortable and layered clothes for plane flights – it’s hot, it’s cold…you never know. So I travel prepared for anything. Always a warm scarf, socks, and usually a sleeveless cotton shirt with a sweater or jacket. 2. I always travel with my velour eye-shades – the kind that are shaped so your eyelashes don’t get squished and all light is blocked out. I am a nut about trying to get enough sleep because of how important it is to the health of our bodies and so these eyeshades come in handy not only on long plane flights but in every hotel room (and yes, I wear them at home in my NY apartment too!). 3. Treat yourself to a relaxing massage as soon as possible upon arrival at your destination. While my work generally results in my trying out a spa wherever I go, I learned that doing so as soon as possible (ideally on arrival day) helped me get over jet lag and in general relax during the entire trip.

AP: What is your favorite book? SE: How Now Shall We Live? by Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcey. While this may seem like an odd choice, it is one of the smartest books I have ever read. Not only is it based on Christian principles, but those principles are explained in such a way that it is much easier to understand various world views and where the plumb line is for mine. Written in 1999, I still have it on my nightstand after all these years.   

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? SE: I am not much of a drinker and so a simple glass of wine does it for me. I am not a connoisseur and generally order a Chardonnay if I am drinking white and Merlot or Pinot Noir if I am drinking red. 

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? SE: Get enough sleep!

AP: What fragrance do you wear? SE: Always Escada – the old Escada that comes in a gold-topped bottle in a bright red box.  Peter loves this fragrance so much that whenever I have tried something else he begs me to go back to Escada.  When they discontinued the fragrance a few years ago, he began hunting down whatever bottles where left and so I think I have a supply for another 4 years or so.

AP: Botox or not? SE: But of course!

AP: Hair color: natural or not? SE: The answer to this is both. I have highlighted my hair for decades and while there is a lot more gray now than there used to be, I think there is still some natural color in there somewhere. 

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. SE: I know this may be hard to believe, but I don’t have an ipod. Peter is the music expert in our household and so whenever I am in the car I enjoy whatever it is that he has curated on his many, many disks. Going back to the question on work/life balance….since I tilt toward anything and everything work related, if I do listen to something it would be TED talks or a copy of a session I missed at a spa conference.

AP: Quote to live by? SE: “This too shall pass.” It reminds me not to hold too tight to the good things and not to sweat too much about the bad things.

AP: Who is your mentor? SE: Deborah Szkeley has been my mentor ever since I met her when I first started working at the Golden Door in Escondido, California in 1974. She has been an inspiration to me in many ways…both in business and personally. At times she has been like a mother. These days we are more like friends and I cherish the times I am with her. She will be 90 next year and seems the same to me as the day I met her almost 37 years ago. 

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today? SE: I think that following your intuition in order to find something to do that you love is good advice. As I write this I reflect on what I have been reading about Steve Job’s via the biography and many interviews by the author Walther Isaacson.  He credited listening to his intuition with why he was so innovative in his work. That rings true. And after finding that something you love, then I think the principle that Malcolm Gladwell talked about in his book, “Outliers” applies.  He repeatedly mentioned that the key to success in any field is, to a large extent, a matter of practicing a specific task for a total of around 10,000 hours.  While it may be popular these days to hop from job to job, I think amassing expertise in one area is very important. Since I have been in the spa industry for my entire career (although working in several different job capacities) I have probably amassed several blocks of 10,000 hours. In the end when you put in that much time, you do end up with an expertise that very few others have.

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